Use the MCI_SET command along with the MCI_SET_PARMS parameter block to set the time format for an open device. Set the dwTimeFormat field in the parameter block to one of the constants identified in the following table:
| Constant | Time Format |
| MCI_FORMAT_MILLISECONDS | Milliseconds |
| MCI_FORMAT_SAMPLES | Samples |
| MCI_FORMAT_BYTES | Bytes (in PCM format files) |
| MCI_FORMAT_MILLISECONDS | Milliseconds |
| MCI_FORMAT_MSF | Minute/Second/Frame |
| MCI_FORMAT_TMSF | Track/Minute/Second/Frame |
| MCI_FORMAT_MILLISECONDS | Milliseconds |
| MCI_SEQ_FORMAT_SONGPTR | MIDI Song Pointer |
| MCI_FORMAT_SMPTE_24 | SMPTE, 24 Frame |
| MCI_FORMAT_SMPTE_25 | SMPTE, 25 Frame |
| MCI_FORMAT_SMPTE_30 | SMPTE, 30 Frame |
| MCI_FORMAT_SMPTE_30DROP | SMPTE, 30 Frame Drop |
As an example, the following code fragment sets the time format to milliseconds on the device specified by wDeviceID:
UINT wDeviceID;
MCI_SET_PARMS mciSetParms;
.
.
.
/* Set time format to milliseconds
*/
mciSetParms.dwTimeFormat = MCI_FORMAT_MILLISECONDS;
if (mciSendCommand(wDeviceID, MCI_SET, MCI_SET_TIME_FORMAT,
(DWORD)(LPVOID) &mciSetParms))
/* Error, unable to set time format
*/
...
else
/* Time format set successfully
*/
...
For the minute/second/frame time format specified with the MCI_FORMAT_MSF constant, the time is relative to the beginning of the media. The time is packed into a DWORD, as shown in the following illustration:
This illustration is not available for this release
The MMSYSTEM.H header file defines the following macros to get and set elements of a minute/second/frame packed DWORD:
| Macro | Description |
| MCI_MSF_MINUTE | Gets minute value in a minute/second/frame DWORD. |
| MCI_MSF_SECOND | Gets second value in a minute/second/frame DWORD. |
| MCI_MSF_FRAME | Gets frame value in a minute/second/frame DWORD. |
| MCI_MAKE_MSF | Sets minute, second, and frame values in a minute/second/frame DWORD. |
Note:
The first few seconds of audio compact discs contain table of contents data. To play from the beginning of a disc using the minute/second/frame time format, use the MCI_STATUS command to get the position of the first track and play from that position.
For the track/minute/second/frame time format specified with the MCI_FORMAT_TMSF constant, the time is relative to the beginning of the specified track. The time is packed into a DWORD, as shown in the following illustration:
This illustration is not available for this release
The MMSYSTEM.H header file defines the following macros to get and set elements of a track/minute/second/frame packed DWORD:
| Macro | Description |
| MCI_TMSF_TRACK | Gets track value in a track/minute/second/frame DWORD. |
| MCI_TMSF_MINUTE | Gets minute value in a track/minute/second/frame DWORD. |
| MCI_TMSF_SECOND | Gets second value in a track/minute/second/frame DWORD. |
| MCI_TMSF_FRAME | Gets frame value in a track/minute/second/frame DWORD. |
| MCI_MAKE_TMSF | Sets track, minute, second, and frame values in a track/minute/second/frame DWORD. |
SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers) time formats are based on standard time formats developed for the motion picture and television industries. For SMPTE time formats, the time is packed into a DWORD, as shown in the following illustration:
This illustration is not available for this release